Province supporting four new Catholic school projects across Waterloo Region with $91M funding

A major investment is heading for Waterloo Region’s education sector, as the province announced that it will support four projects through the Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB) with $91 million in allotted funding.

The Ontario government and the WCDSB made the announcement, saying that four projects had been approved, including the construction of two new schools as well as additions to two existing schools.

“This is wonderful news for our students, families and staff,” said Annalisa Varano, Director of Education and CEO of the Waterloo Catholic District School Board.

“These investments mean more children will learn, grow and be formed in faith in modern, welcoming spaces close to home, and more families will have access to the childcare they need.”

That funding, approved through the Ministry’s Capital Priorities Program, is specifically slated to go towards:

• New Doon South Catholic Elementary School (Kitchener): A new 645-pupil-place elementary school, including a five-room childcare centre providing 88 new licensed childcare spaces. Approved funding: $32,420,130. 
• Monsignor Haller Catholic Elementary School Addition (Kitchener): A 282-pupil-place addition, along with retrofits to existing instructional and operational spaces. Approved funding: $17,236,450. 
• New St. Bernadette Catholic Elementary School (Kitchener): A new 657-pupil-place replacement school. Approved funding: $28,818,332. 
• Monsignor Doyle Catholic Secondary School Addition (Cambridge): A 368-pupil-place addition, including new operational areas. Approved funding: $12,765,962.

“Catholic education has served this region for generations, grounding learning in faith and community, and these new and renewed spaces will allow us to carry that mission forward for the next generation of students,” said Varano.

“We are grateful to the Ministry of Education for recognizing the urgent accommodation needs in our growing communities, and we look forward to moving these projects forward.” 

Combined, those four projects are set to create as many as 1,952 new or renewed student places and 88 new licensed childcare spaces for families across the region.

As of now, there are no set timelines or dates for those allotted projects, including anticipated construction kickoff and completion dates, with the WCDSB saying they will be confirmed “as planning advances, and updates will be provided along the way.”

The region’s Catholic board said it serves more than 28,000 students across 52 schools throughout Waterloo Region.